Ginny Owens is one of those artists that has always been difficult for me to pin down. When I hear one of her songs on the radio, I always guess that it is someone else before I find out that it is one of hers. I'm uncertain if this is a testament to her ability to produce marketable CCM music or if there is a sameness to her music that makes it blend in with everyone else's.
Long Way Home is her latest, and it is no exception. "Waiting for Tomorrow" deals with living in the present and realizing that tomorrow never arrives. Studio wizards have tweaked Owens' vocals here, giving her an odd, almost Karin Bergquist (Over the Rhine) tone that doesn't quite reach the heights at which they are aiming.
"Wonderful Wonder" gets my nomination for Most Redundant Title of the Year, but the song uses imagery of nature not unlike that of a Rich Mullins or Chris Rice song and may well be my pick of the disc. "Let the Silence Speak" is a reminder to "be still and know," a concept that is often lost in today's instant gratification society.
"Tyranny," a southern/R & B-oriented track that leaves Owens' vocals coming across as affected, should have been done in a different key. "Welcome to Love" portrays how we can feel when we finally let fear take control of our lives, as well as the accepting of grace. "Fellow Traveler" is about reliance on others and working together to ease the pain of life and lands squarely between Point of Grace and Sara Groves vocally.
Long Way Home, unfortunately, is one of those discs that makes me question if it would have been released if there were no "Christian" market. In many ways, it comes close to measuring up to radio standards but ultimately has nothing other than the lyrics to make it stand up. To these jaded ears, a near miss.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Joe MontagueThere are certain things in life you can count on to bring happiness; a rainbow, a child telling you they love you, your cat or dog trotting to the door to greet you when you come home and a new CD from Ginny Owens. Just like the title from one of her former albums, Beautiful you can always count on Ginny Owens creating beautiful soothing tunes to caress your soul and Long Way Home does just…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Burton WrayGinny Owens is one of those rare singer songwriters who has the ability to fashion and perform a song that strikes right at the heart of the listener. Over the years she has built up a reputation as one of the best singer songwriters, especially out of those who craft lyrics that are simple and yet also vivid and thought-provoking. One example of this is on the album's second track, "Fellow…Similar sounding releases
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1998Sarah MasenCarry Us Through
2003Christin CookFor the Love
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